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The Met said it would deploy a number of overt and covert tact is to arrest the reclusive figure but insisted "this decision has not been taken lightly, and the MPS has discussed it with the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office."

A statement read: "A significant amount of time has passed since Julian Assange entered the Embassy, and despite the efforts of many people there is no imminent prospect of a diplomatic or legal resolution to this issue.

EPA

Assange has been at the embassy in London since 2012

EPA

Staff ordered a pizza to the embassy following the police's announcement today

REUTERS

Assange speaking from the embassy balcony on a previous location

"Like all public services, MPS resources are finite. With so many different criminal, and other, threats to the city it protects, the current deployment of officers is no longer believed proportionate."

The Australian faced extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges - which he denies - and has been living at the central London diplomatic residence since 2012, at a reported cost of £12million to UK taxpayers.